Why So Melancholic? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Eurythmics

Peaking in at number four in the United States and at number eight in the United Kingdom, "Here Comes the Rain Again" has a typical melancholic feel to it. Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics has stated that the song was about an "undecided thing" and literally could be interpreted as "here comes the depression".

Answer: Nirvana

"Lithium" peaked at number 64, "Come As You Are" peaked at number 32, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" peaked at number six on the US Billboard Top 100 in 1991. In a 1992 interview with Chris Brown, front man Kurt Cobain stated that while the song is fictional, the song lyrics did infuse some personal issues such as breakups with girlfriends and other relationship issues.

The 2016 Alternative Nation article "The Story Behind Every Song On Nirvana's Nevermind: 25 Years Later" by Jeremy Neugebauer suggests that Nirvana's "Lithium" is a sad song about a man who turns to religion following the death of his girlfriend as a means to avoid suicide.

Answer: Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)

"...So there's no simple explanation
For anything important any of us do
And yea the human tragedy
consists in the necessity
of living with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure"

These lyrics are a direct paraphrase from Hugh MacLennan's "The Watch That Ends the Night" and reflect the fact that in tragedy we must often live with the consequences of our actions. In 1957, MacLennan had written his famous book in the midst of personal tragedy that he had been suffering. In particular, he had fallen into a deep depression as the result of the death of his wife Dorothy Duncan. During this period, MacLennan contemplated suicide. It was his courage to not go through with his suicidal thoughts that inspired the song "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan). "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" is suggested to expose suicide for what the band believed it to truly be, a selfish and impractical act.

Answer: Paint It Black

In the article "Paint It Black" by The Pop History Dig, there are various suggestions about the idea and meaning behind the song. It is suggested that while the song came about during the Vietnam War, it is not about the events themselves as many believed them to be. Many war veterans, however, consider the song meaningful to them as the song lyrics portray a sense of death, loss of innocence, and abandonment. According to the article, the song is actually about a depressed man whose lover has died and he is trying to cope with it. The article states:

" "Paint It Black" is about a man whose lover has died, and is beside himself with grief, seeing his whole world "painted black." He even wants the sun 'blotted out.' He's depressed, feeling down, worthless, and without direction or connection."

Answer: Unwell

On the 2004 DVD set "Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty", Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas stated that the song "Unwell" from the 2003 album "More Than You Think You Are" is a metaphor. He states that the lyrics represent people who "messed up and feel alone like that. We all feel a little messed up sometimes... you're not alone." In a 2017 interview and article by Billboard Magazine's Zack Ruskin titled "Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas & Counting Crows' Adam Duritz Reflect on Each Others' Biggest Hits and Best Qualities", Duritz reflected on the effect that "Unwell" had on him stating that:

"I've dealt with mental illness in my life. 'Unwell' always resonated with me because of that."

Answer: Blue October

In the 2006 article "Cockroaches, Porn, Voices Fill Blue October Singer's Brain", lead singer Justin Furstenfeld says that he wrote the song "Hate Me" as a response to the destruction he caused relationship wise as a result of his drug abuse and depression. Fursteneld often performs under the name "5591", his patient number that was once given to him during a stint in a mental institution following a break-up. The song begins with a real telephone voice mail that Furstenfeld received from his mother expressing concern whether he had continued taking his medications or not while he had secluded himself for a period of six months. Furstenfeld has stated that he wrote the song as an apology to all those he hurt due to his addiction.

"That song came from being on the road and letting the road get a hold of you and treating people at home like crap and being selfish," said Furstenfeld, 30, a recovering addict. Then you realize suddenly that no one else is around anymore because they're sick of your crap and you're standing there alone. I had to get it off my chest and apologize to the people in my family and in relationships to realize what I was doing to the people that surround me."

Answer: Last Resort

During interviews, band members Tobin Esperance and Jacoby Shaddix stated that the song was about a personal friend and roommate who attempted to commit suicide but recovered while receiving help in a mental facility. Due to the songs extreme nature, the band was forced to release a "clean" version due to the use of words "cut" and "bleeding" which many thought promoted the idea of "suicide", but in fact was the complete opposite. In the 2000 MTV article "Fans Finding Hope in Papa Roach's 'Last Resort" by Corey Moss, a 13-year old girl claimed that the song helped her cope with suicide after several attempts of her own:

"I no longer feel alone. I know now that I can get through this. I know that I am not the only person out there who feels this way."

Answer: Runaway Train

In 2013, when interviewed by Spin Magazine's David Peisner for the article "Wrong Way on a One-Way Track: The Oral History of Soul Asylum's 'Runaway Train'", lead vocalist Dave Pirner stated that the song lyrics were a metaphor for "depression". He stated that "The thing that got it rolling was that I was in a very dark place, and I had somebody that I could call up in the middle of the night. [Laughs] That was it! It's almost embarrassing when I think about how personal it is. The things that were happening at that time in my life were really questioning my own mental health."

"Runaway Train" was a successful power ballad for Soul Asylum peaking in at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. The song featured an intense music video that included pictures of missing persons in the United States (some of which have been resolved either directly or indirectly due to the video). The video touched base on various issues including teenage runaways, prostitution, rape, and kidnapping.

Answer: Blink-182

While on tour in 1997, Mark Hoppus began experiencing loneliness and depression. He stated that while his band-mates would return home to their girlfriends, he returned to no one. In the 2000 MTV article "Blink-182 Slow Down Tempo, Speed Up Charts", Hoppus went on record stating "When you're on tour, you're so lonely... everybody wants to come home and have a girlfriend... It's about me being depressed and lonely out on tour, and not really having anything to come home to." During a 1999 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Hoppus stated that his inspiration for the song came after reading a magazine.

"I wrote 'Adam's Song' because I was reading a magazine where some teenage kid had killed himself and left a letter for his family. It's about how kids feel hopeless and like there's no other way out. But they're wrong. There's always something better on the other side of whatever you're going through."

Answer: Linkin Park

In 2017, following the released of their seventh studio album "One More Light", Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park was interviewed by Billboard Magazine regarding the track "Heavy". He stated that the writing of the song was based on a conversation he had with lead singer Chester Bennington. During the discussion, Chester stated "Y'know what? I have to be honest. I'm NOT fine. I'm NOT OK. Too much stuff is just happening to me. I just feel underwater."

At the time of the recording of the album, other members of the band were also having personal and "heavy stuff" happening in their lives. In a separate interview with Billboard, Bennington discussed issues he experienced including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. He went on to note that even when life was good, he felt uncomfortable. Tragically, Bennington took his own life in July 2017, several months after the release of the track and the album.